Earth handling machine and berm finisher



March 9,1943. A D. SHOWER, l1 .,31?342 EARTH HANDLING MACHINE AND BERM FINISHER Filed oct. 9, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1' 35 IIE. E. 2 7

l A :135A 4? Si?.- 45 44 3H' 111:2

D. s. Hloov'ER EARTH HANDLING MACHINE AND BEEM FINISHER Filed Oct. 9, 1941' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmm AMarch 9, 194s.

DANIEL s. Hoeve-R,l

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFME EARTH HANDLING MACHINE AND BERM FINISHER Daniel S. Hoover, Mansfield, Ohio, assigner to The Huber Manufacturing Company, Marion, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 9, 1941, Serial No. 414,362

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an earth handling apparatus which can be used for grading roads or for finishing the berm of a road.

An object of the invention is to provide a berm finishing apparatus which is removably supported upon a road grading apparatus so that either or both can be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an earth handling machine constructed and arranged for scraping the berm of a road in order to fill the ruts in the berm and to resurface or regrade the berm.

It is another object of the invention to provide an earth handling apparatus for finishing the berm of a road which is constructed and arranged to move earth upon the berm without permitting the same to'encroach upon the road surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a berm finishing apparatus which is supported in advance of a grader blade carried by a grading machine vso that the grading machine can be converted into a berm nishing machine.

` Another object of the invention is to provide an earth handling machine having a road grading blade which supports a removable berm 1inishing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a berm finishing apparatus supported upon the grader blade of an earth handling machine so that the berm finishing apparatus may be operated by the same mechanism which operates the grader blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a berm nishing apparatus having adjustable means for varying the deposit of earth in various portions of the berm to more evenly fill ruts in the berm.

Another object of the invention is to providev a berm finisher in accordance with the kforegoing object wherein hydraulic means operates an adjustable filler blade, the hydraulic apparatus being undercontrol of the operator of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a berm finishing apparatus which is adjustable for finishing berms of various widths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a berm finishing apparatus having an adjustable scraper blade for loosening various quantities of earth, gravel or stone from the berm.

Another object of the invention is to reclaim material or earth which has been scraped onto the road-bed by trafiic and return the material to the berm thereby cleaning the edge of the roadbed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a materials handling apparatus which scrapes and cleans the edge of a road-bed of excess material and moves same into the berm.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing object which simultaneously with the cleaning operation, grades and levels the berm.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description and the drawings. v l

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an earth handling machine provided with the berm finishing apparatus of this invention. Y

- Figure 2 is an end elevational View ofthe berm finishing apparatus looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the berm finishing apparatus looking in theV direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the berm nishing apparatus.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational plan view of a portion of the frame shown in the lowerleft# hand corner of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 6 6 of Figure 5, showing the adjustment for the scraper blade. p

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional View ltaken along line 7 1 of Figure 4 showing the support for the guide blade which is positioned adjacent the edge of the road pavement. r

In this invention the earth handling apparatus can be carried upon any vehicle which is constructed and arranged for road construction and repair work. Particularly, the invention is adaptable for use with a road grading machine wherein the grader blade is suitably supported by means for controlling the vertical and horizontal angle thereof. The berm finishing apparatus is adapted to be carried in advance of the grader blade so that the vgrader blade cooperates with the berm finishing apparatus for providing a complete berm iinishing device. The apparatus may be supported either beneath a suitable vehicle frame, or can be carried in advance of the vehicle, or behind the vehicle depending upon the general construction of the same and the normal positon of the grader blade, the berm finishing apparatus being always positioned in advance of the grader blade.

In the apparatus of this invention the grader blade and the berm finishing apparatus are shown as being sup-ported beneath a tractor frame andl between the front and rear Wheels of the tractor. Such a position locates the apparatus in a manner that the operator has a complete unobstructed View of the road finishing apparatus so that he can control the manner of operation of the apparatus for obtaining the most satisfactory results. In addition, the apparatus of this invention is positioned to one side of the tractor so that a complete View of the berm finishing apparatus is had by the operator, the view including an area from the edge of the pavement to the full extent of the width of the berm.

The earth or materials handling machine of this invention consists of a tractor IIJ having a suitable frame II supporting the front wheels I2 and the rear wheels |3 in any conventional manner. A suitable power plant is provided under the hood I4 for driving the tractor.

A grader blade I5 is suported beneath the frame I I of the tractor I upon a suitable circular track I which is hydraulically operated in conventional manner for changing the horizontal angular position of the grader blade I5. Hydraulic jacks I1 are pivotally supported at I8 upon a sub-frame I9 which is secured to the main frame II. The plunger 20 of the hydraulic jacks I1 is connected to the semi-circular frame I5 for raising and lowering the grader blade I5 and thereby changing the vertical angular position of the grader blade I5. The hydraulic jacks I1 are supplied with hydraulic` fluid from a suitable source upon the tractor IB and are operated by suitable controls under the control of the operator. Such a machine for grading roads is a more or less common piece of apparatus and thus is a Well-known article of manufacture and it is therefore believed that a more detailed description of the grading machine is not necessary.

In order to adapt a road grading machine for finishing the berm of a road the apparatus hereinafter described is positionedin advance of the grader blade. The apparatus may be removably supported either upon the tractor frame directly or upon the grader blade so that the berm finishing apparatus can be removed when the machine is to be used solely as a road grader. If desired, the berm finishing apparatus can be constructed as an integral part of the road finishing machine for the specific job of berm finishing. However, by making the berm finishing apparatus removable from the tractor frame or grader blade a more versatile piece of apparatus is produced.

The berm finishing apparatus consists of the grader blade I5, a scraper blade 25 and a filler blade 30 positioned in proper cooperative relationship so that the scraper blade loosens earth from the berm of a road for directing the same into the ller blade 3B which serves the purpose of filling the ruts in the berm and directing excess loosened earth against the grader blade to permit the grader blade to regrade the surface of the berm from the edge of the pavement of the road outwardly and thus level the berm surface.

As shown in this invention, the scraper blade 25 and the filler blade 38 are supported by the grader blade I5 and in advance thereof. The scraper blade 25 is rigidly secured to the end of an angle bar 2| which extends from a bracket 22 secured to the scraper blade I5 by means of the bolt 23. A rod 24 is secured -to the circular frame I6 by means of the bolt 25. The rod 24 extends over the upper edge of the grader blade I5 in engagement therewith and has the `for- -with the end of the scraper blade 25.

ward end 21 secured to the angle bar 2| in a suitable manner, such as by a welding operation. The scraper blade 25 is thus cantilevered from the grader blade I5 and is supported by the truss bar 24.

A channel shaped runner is removably secured to the outer end of the grader blade I5 by means of a suitable bracket 5 bolted to the plate 32 and the grader blade I5 by means of bolts 6 and 1 respectively. The runner 28 extends forwardly of the grader blade i 5 into adjacent relationship A truss bar 2S extending over the vertical supports 3| reenforces the runner 28 to prevent the same from bending in a vertical direction. A side plate 32 is carried by the runner 28 and is adjacent the grader blade I5 to prevent earthcarried by the grader blade from spilling outwardly from the end of the grader blade.

The scraper blade 25 is adjustable vertically with respect to the runner 28 in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6. The scraper blade 25` is carried by an angle bar 33 which is secured to the angle bar 2| and spaced therefrom by means of the spacer bars 34. An angle bar 35 extends upwardly from the runner 28 and is provided with a slot 38. An angle bracket 31 is positioned adjacent the angle bar 35 and carries a stud 38 which extends through the slot 35 and carries a washer 39 engaged by a nut 40 for securing the angle bracket 31 upon the angle bar 35. A threaded boss 4| is secured to the horizontal flange of the angle bracket 31 and is suitably threaded to receive a bolt 42 the end of which is adapted to engage a slot 28a in the runner 28. A nut 43 locks the bolt 42 in position.

When the scraper blade 25 is to be adjusted vertically with respect to the lower edge of the:

runner 2S the nuts 43 and 48 are loosened. The bolt 42 is then turned to raise or lower the angle bracket 31 and thus the scraper blade 25 with respect to the runner 28. After suitable adjustment has been made the nuts 43 and 48 can again be tightened.

A tie bar 44 has the opposite ends thereof secured to the runner 28 and the angle bar 2| for providing a rigid reenforcing structure between the runner and the support for the scraper blade 25. A second tie bar 45 has the opposite ends thereof secured to the runner 28 and the opposite end of the angle bar 2| to additionally reenforce the structure and to provide means for supporting the guide blade 50 which is positioned adjacent the edge of the pavement.

The guide blade 58 is an angle shaped member having a plurality of holes 46 provided in the horizontal face 41 of the angle. To secure the guide blade upon the angle bars 2| and 45 a plurality of hooks 48 extend over the edge of the angle bars 2| and 45. The shanks 49 of the hooks 48 extend through the holes 46 provided in the horizontal face 41 of the guide blade 50. The lower ends of the shanks 49 are threaded to receive nuts 5I whereby the guide blade 5i) is secured against the horizontal face of the angle bars 2| and 45.

The plurality of holes 48 provided in the horizontal face 41 in the guide blade 53 permit the blade 50 to be disposed at different distances with respect to the runner 28 so that berms of different Widths can' be finished in a satisfactory manner. When using the apparatus upon a narrow berm the guide blade 50 will be placed closer to the runner 28 than when a wide berm is being finished. The adjusting feature is of de'nite advantage particularly when finishing narrow berms to prevent the earth loosened from the berm by the scraper blade 25 from being moved upon the edge of the pavement. The guide blade 55 can thus be adjusted so that it will always ride adjacent the edge of the pavement.

The filler blade 38 is pivoted upon the scraper blade 25 by means of the pivot pin 52. The filler blade 30 may thus swing inwardly and outwardly with respect to the guide blade 50 to throw more or less loosened earth against the guide blade 50. To control the position of the ller blade 30 a hydraulic jack 53 is positioned between the ller blade 38 and the scraper blade 25. The cylinder 54 of the hydraulic jack 53 is pivotally secured upon a support bracket 55 extending from the rear side of the scraper blade 25. The plunger 55 of the hydraulic jack 53 is pivotally secured to the bracket 51 extending from the filler blade 38. Hydraulic fluid lines 53 and 59 are connected to opposite ends of the cylinder 54 and extend to suitable control valves which are actuated by the operator of the machine for controlling the movement of the plunger 56 within the cylinder 54. The position of the filler blade 36 with respect to the guide blade 50 is thus under the control of the operator of the machine so that he can increase or decrease the quantity of earth which is thrown adjacent the guide blade 55 and thus take care of varying degrees of unevenness in the ground adjacent the guide blade B to completely iill the same with earth which has been loosened by the scraper blade 25.

Since the berm finishing apparatus is supported by the grader blade it may readily be seen that the hydraulic jacks Il which control the vertical position of the grader blade I5 will also control the vertical position of the berm finishing apparatus so that the vertical angularity of the berm finishing apparatus will be changed whenever the angularity of the grader blade is changed to meet varying angular conditions of the berm grade. Also, the hydraulic jack Il provides means for elevating the berm finishing apparatus and the grader blade from an operating position to a position for permitting transportation of the device to and from a place of storage.

Figures 1 and 4 show the manner in which the device handles earth for grading and resurfacing the surface of the berm adjacent the edge of the pavement. To place the apparatus in operation the guide blade is positioned upon the support bars 2l and 45 so that the distance between the guide blade and the runner 28 is equal to the dimension of the berm to be finished. The scraper blade 25 is adjusted Vertically with respect to the runner 28 to remove or loosen a certain quantity of earth from the berm. As will be seen from the drawings the scraper blade 25 is disposed at a rearward angle with respect to the forward motion of the earth handling machine while the grader blade l5 is set at a forward angle with respect to the forward motion of the machine. The earth, gravel or stone which is removed or loosened from the berm by the scaper blade 25 will thus travel in a rearward direction in relation to machine when the scraper is moved in a forward direction. Also, the earth will travel inwardly toward the edge of the pavement and thus be directed against the guide blade 5i) to fill in the ruts in the berm adjacent the edge of the pave- GUY ment. The direction of motion of the apparatus is shown by the arrow in Figure 4.

The loosened earth directed against the guide the deep ruts normally developed adjacent the edge of the pavement.

The grader blade l5 is positioned with respect to the pavement so that the lower edge of the grader blade is immediately adjacent; the edge of the pavement. The outer end of the grader blade can then be disposed at a suitable angle with respect to the edge of the pavement to establish a suitable grade from the edge of the pavement outwardly.

The loosened earth passing between the guide blade 58 and the ller blade 35 will thus be directed against the grader blade I5 which. will permit the earth to pass under the grader blade l5 with the major portion thereof being deposited adjacent the edge of the pavement.

As heretofore mentioned the ller blade 30 is movable under the control of the operator with respect to the guide blade 59. This movement of the filler bladey 35 is provided to permit the operator to have control over the quantity of earth which is directed adjacent the guide blade 52 so that if the ruts or unevenness in the berm is considerablyV greater adjacent the edge of the pavement the operator can throw a larger quan-f tity of the loosened earth to fill in the uneven spots of the berm.

The grader blade l5 extends inwardly toward the center of the road-bed. Since the grader blade l5 is disposed at a forward angle with respect to the motion of the machine any material which has been thrown onto the roadbed by traffic will be collected and returned to the berm, the material lowingrearwardly along the grader blade when the machine moves forwardly.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A materials handling apparatus for surfacing the berm of a paved road including means for loosening some of the earth from the berm and for directing the same toward the edge of the pavement, means preventing the loosened. earth from being directed upon the pavement, means for regulating the quantity of earthV loosened by said loosening means that is directed against said last mentioned means, and means ,for gathering the loosened earth for redistributing the same over the surface of the berm.

2. An earth handling apparatus for surfacing the berm of a paved road including means for loosening some of the earth from the berm and for directing the same toward the edge of the pavement, means adapted to be disposed adjacent the edge of the pavement to prevent the loosened earth from being directed upon the pavement, means Areceiving the loosened earth for directing the same toward said last mentioned means to regulatek the quantity of earth deposited adjacent the edge of the pavement, and means for gathering the loosened earth adjacent the edge of the pavement kfor redistributing the same over the surface of the berm.

3. An earth handling apparatus for surfacing the berm of a paved road including means for loosening some of the earth from the berm and for directing the same toward the edge of theV Y pavement, means adapted to be disposedIadja--.

cent the edge of the pavement to prevent the loosened earth from being directed upon the pavement, means receiving the loosened earth for directing the same toward said last mentioned means to regulate the quantity of earth deposited adjacent the edge of the pavement, means for adjusting said last mentioned means, and means for gathering the loosened earth adjacent the edge of the pavement for redistributing the same over the surface of the berm.

4. An earth handling machine comprising a scraper blade arranged angularly with respect to the machine to move earth inwardly toward the machine, a guide blade for receiving earth moved by said scraper blade and for directing the same rearwardlywith respect to the machine, a grader blade for receiving earth from said guide blade and disposed angularly with respect to the machine to distribute earth received thereon outwardly with respect to the machine, and a vertically pivoted blade disposed adjacent the scraper blade for directing earth discharged from the scraper blade toward said guide blade.

5. An earth handling machine comprising a scraper blade arranged angularly with respect to the machine to move earth inwardly toward the machine, a guide blade for receiving earth moved by said scraper blade and for directing the same rearwardly with respect to the machine, a grader blade for receivingv earth from said guide blade and disposed angularly with respect to the machine to distribute earth received thereon outwardly with respect to the machine, a vertically pivoted blade disposed adjacent the scraper blade for directing earth discharged from the scraper blade toward said guide blade, and means for controlling the angular disposition of said last mentioned blade with respect to said guide blade.

6. An earth handling apparatus comprising a substantially triangular structure adapted to be moved horizontally across the ground wherein the forward edge of said structure provides means for loosening earth as the structure is moved across the ground, said forward edge having an opening therein to permit earth loosened by said forward edge to be discharged adjacent the rear edge of said structure, means disposed within said opening in said forward edge and movable with respect to said forward edge to regulate the point of discharge of earth from the forward edge, said rear edge receiving the earth loosened by the forward edge and providing means for redistributing the loosened earth over the ground.

7. An earth handling apparatus comprising a substantially triangular structure adapted to be moved horizontally across the ground wherein the forward edge of said structure provides means for loosening earth as the structure is moved across the ground, said forward edge having an opening therein to permit earth loosened bv said forward edge to be discharged adjacent the rear edge of said structure, wall means in said opening for limiting the movement of the loosened earth outwardly from said forward edge and for directing the same adjacent the rear edge of said structure, and a second wall means disposed within said opening movable with respect to said forward edge and said rst mentioned wall means to regulate the point of discharge of earth from said forward edge and thus the quantity of earth directed against said first mentioned wall means, said rear edge receiving the earth loosened by the forward edge and providing means for redistributing the loosened earth over the ground.

8. An earth handling apparatus comprising a scraper blade and a grader blade arranged in a substantially triangular relationship, said scraper blade being adapted to move earth toward the apex of the triangle while said grader blade is adapted to move earth toward the base of the triangle, wall means disposed adjacent the grader blade and the scraper blade for preventing movement of earth toward the apex of the triangle and for directing the same against the grader blade, and wall means vertically pivoted adjacent the scraper blade for controlling the quantity of earth discharged from the scraper blade to be directed against said rst mentioned wall means.

9. An earth handling apparatus comprising a scraper blade and a grader blade arranged in a substantially triangular relationship, said scraper blade being adapted to move earth toward the apex of the triangle while said grader blade is adapted to move earth toward the base of the triangle, wall means disposed adjacent the grader blade andthe scraper blade for preventing movement of earth toward the apex of the triangle and for directing the same against the grader blade, wall means vertically pivoted adjacent the scraper blade for controlling the quantity of earth discharged from the scraper blade to be directed against said first mentioned wall means, and means for controlling the angular disposition of the second mentioned v wall means with respect to the first mentioned wall means.

1). An earth handling apparatus including a grader blade, a runner extruding forwardly of said grader blade and removably secured thereto, a scraper blade positioned forwardly of said grader blade having one end thereof adjustably supported by said runner and the opposite end removably supported by said grader blade, a wall member extending between said scraper blade and said grader blade and at least partially supported'by said scraper blade, and a second wall member supported by said scraper blade `zxtending toward said rst mentioned wall mem- 11. In combination, a road grading machine having a grader blade, and a berm finishing apparatus removably supported from said grader blade and consisting of a runner removably attached to the outer extremity of said grader blade and extending forwardly thereof, an arm removably attached to said grader blade having a scraper blade secured thereto that vextends into engagement with said runner for support thereby, wall means supported upon said scraper blade support arm and spaced from said scraper blade in a manner to receive earth loosened by said scraper blade, and wall means disposed between said scraper blade and said rst mentioned wall means movable relative to said rst mentioned wall means to regulate the quantity of earth directed against said first mentioned wall means.

l2. A berm finishing apparatus comprising a grader bladea runner, and a scraper blade disposed in substantially triangular relationship with the grader blade and scraper blade disposed at opposite ends of said runner, said runner being adapted to form the base of the triangle and to engage the outer edge of the berm of a road to determine the width of the berm nished, said scraper blade being adapted to earth to grade the same outwardly from the edge of the paved road, and means disposed adjacent the scraper blade for regulating the quantity of earth directed toward the paved edge of 5 the road.

DANIEL S. HOOVER. 

